The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey
Passion, greed and insanity... There are many reasons behind the doing of a crime.
While most crimes are quickly forgotten, some still remain a mystery and some are still talked about even until this day. We sum up the top 13 most intriguing and shocking crimes in American history.
She had a broken skull from a strong force to the head and she was strangled using a garrote around her neck. It is also believed that she was sexually assaulted. Her cause of death was asphyxia due to strangulation of her neck in connection with craniocerebral trauma that she had. Her death was classified as a homicide.
Investigation still continues to catch the assailant
Errors made in the initial investigation such as loss and contamination of evidence, lack of experienced staff at that time of the investigation, shared evidence with the Ramseys and delay of formal interviews with the parents complicated the resolution of the investigation. Initially, the police suspected that a member of the family caused her death, but in 2008, all family members were cleared through DNA testing. In fact, the DNA testing points out an "unknown male" as the suspect.
In February 2009, Boulder police took the case back from the District Attorney (DA) and reopened the investigation. JonBenet was interred at St. James Episcopal Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia.
The Mysterious "Zodiac Killer"
After he taunted the police and made letters to local Bay Area press from 1969-1974, further communication from him abruptly stopped. The letters included four cryptograms, and out of the four sent, only one has been definitively solved.
Possible "Zodiac Killer" Suspects have been named
No one has been directly identified as the Zodiac killer but as Buzzfeed suggests, we look at these three primary suspects who lead the theories based on the murders: Earl Van Best Jr. He has a striking resemblance to the composite sketch released but he is not the largely built man that was described at the three previous killings. Arthur Leigh Allen He was at the same exact location at the place where the third Zodiac attack happened.
He came home that night covered in blood, with a bloody knife in his car. However, Allen does not look like the man in the composite sketch but is considered to be one of the prime suspects. Lawrence “Kane” Kaye Kane lived near the victim’s houses or near the locations of their deaths.
The Shooting of Trayvon Martin
Trayvon Benjamin Martin, a 17-year-old African-American teen from Miami Gardens, Florida, was shot dead by George Zimmerman, a community watch volunteer, on the night of February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman shot an unarmed Martin after a brawl escalated between them. Trayvon was under ten-day school suspension and went along with his father to visit his father’s fiancée in Sanford. On the night of February 26, 2012, Trayvon was out to buy candy and a drink to the convenience store where he passed by a neighborhood which had several robbing incidents that year.
George Zimmerman saw him and reported him to the Sanford police for suspicious behavior. After some time, a brawl escalated between them which ended up Zimmerman shooting Martin in the chest.
Zimmerman was tried in court
On April 12, 2012, Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder with a probable cause stating that Zimmerman assumed Martin was a criminal and confronted him that eventually led Zimmerman shooting Martin in the chest. On July 13, 2013, a jury acquitted George Zimmerman on all charges.
The Disappearance of County Official, Bryon Macron
Bryon Macron, a husband and a father of three, who is also a trustee of Medina County since 2010. He was last seen on the morning of December 16, 2016, at his family's house after he left work. Shortly after reporting for work, the police responded to his office at the township building after a maintenance worker discovered that his office looked like there was an altercation that happened. The police found Macron's office unlocked with the lights on and in chaos.
They also found blood and his cellphone. After several hours, his car was found in a public parking lot several miles away from his office. again, the police found blood in his SUV.
The search for the missing official comes to an end
On February 22, 2017, a kayaker found a body in the lake outside Medina County and informed the police. It was later identified as the body of the missing township trustee. The local medical examiner has conducted an autopsy and further tests. Unfortunately, the results are not readily available.
Toxicology results will also take two to three weeks. No cause of death was announced by the authorities since the investigation is still ongoing. It remains unclear how Bryon Macron died.
The Disappearance of Disney Wonder Crew, Rebecca Coriam
The video was time-stamped at 5:45 and it appears to be that she was upset while speaking with someone on the phone. Somebody approached her and asked her if she was okay, she just nodded and walked away. This was Rebecca's last known sighting.
Mystery still surrounds the disappearance of the 24-year-old
The crew searched the entire ship and the investigations also turned to the waters, believing that she may have gone overboard but there was no trace of her. Rebecca's parents also flew in from England to meet with the Bahamian detective but they were told that he only spent one day investigating and only the crew were questioned.
The police concluded no foul play in this case. Rebecca has been missing for the past 5 years and 11 months.
The Disappearance of Natalee Holloway
Natalee Holloway was a student who disappeared on May 30, 2005, while on a Spring Break trip in Aruba. She was supposed to fly home on May 30th but she did not make it. Her classmates last saw her hanging out in a bar with Joran Van der Sloot, together with Deepak and Satish Kalpoe who were said to be locals.
The three men said that they left her at the hotel and not knowing what happened after. Aruban authorities and volunteers began a search and rescue operation for Natalee. Her body was never found.
Investigation leads to the arrest of multiple suspects
On June 9, 2005, Van der Sloot and the Kalpoes were arrested as the suspects for Holloway's disappearance but was later released. As the Aruban investigators obtained new evidence, the three were rearrested on November 21, 2007, as suspects in manslaughter and harming that lead to Holloway's death. The Kalpoes were released despite the protests of the prosecution. Van der Sloot was released on December 7, 2007, without a charge due to lack of evidence that would make him responsible for Holloway's death. Five years after Holloway's disappearance, a business student was found dead in a hotel room that was registered under Van der Sloot's name.
He admitted the crime and eventually plead guilty to the court. He was sentenced to 28 years in prison. Meanwhile, on January 12, 2012, an Alabama judge declared Natalee Holloway legally dead. Her disappearance created a media frenzy and this case remains unsolved.
The Trial of OJ Simpson
After DNA testing, the blood on the glove was found to be the victims. The evidence found lead to the issuance of warrant of arrest for Simpson. He became the person of interest which eventually led to a slow-speed pursuit operation towards him after he failed to turn himself in. The chase ended at his home and he surrendered to the authorities. He pleaded not guilty for the murder of his ex-wife and her friend.. The entire case was known as the "Trial of The Century" after attracting attention internationally.
The contoversial murder trial begins to unfold
It appeared to be that the gloves were too small to fit in his hands. The defense also argued that Simpson was a victim of police fraud and insisting that the detective, Mark Fuhrman, planted the gloves at the crime scene. After 11 months of trial, on October 3, 1995, the jury acquitted OJ Simpson of the murder charges. Despite his acquittal, Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman's murders remains unsolved.
The Jodi Arias Murder Case
The Jodi Arias Murder Case
The tests that were obtained from the crime scene was found to be the DNA from Arias and Alexander. There were also strands of hair that belonged to Arias. On July 15, 2008, Arias was arrested at her home but plead not guilty to the case. She also had different versions of her stories regarding Alexander's death. In the end, she admitted killing Alexander on grounds of self defense after he attacked her.
Justice for Travis Alexander has been served
She asserted that she tried to defend herself that ended up killing Alexander. After the highly publicized journey, the jury convicted Jodi Arias with first-degree murder. She was sentenced to lifetime imprisonment without parole and she is no serving the Arizona Department of Corrections.
The Case of The Missing FBI Agent, Robert Levinson
He was off to meet the contact, Dawud Salahuddin and disappeared the next day. The US Government has categorically denied that Levinson was in Iran for any government assignment. He was also named as the "longest US civilian captive in American history".
Finding Levinson in Iran became difficult
The family received a proof of life video dated November 2010 with Levinson who lost significant weight and unruly hair. He repeatedly pleads the US officials to hear and answer the group that held him captive since he wanted return home. In 2013, Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, has expressed that the Iranian Government will cooperate on gathering information on Levinson's whereabouts. It is still unclear if Robert Levinson is alive up to this day.
The Death of Selena Perez
Selena and Saldivar has reportedly been arguing after Selena demanded financial statements. Moments later, Saldivar draw out a gun and pointed it to the singer. Selena tried to escape but Saldivar shot her lower shoulder that caused severe blood loss. Selena ran until the lobby and asked for help while Saldivar is still chasing her. Before passing out, Selena was able to point out her assailant and the room they have been. Saldivar also attempted to escape but she was spotted by a police nearby. She surrendered after a nearly 10 hour standoff with the authorities. Selena was pronounced dead due to massive loss of blood and cardiac arrest at 1:05 pm of that fateful day.
Selena's Killer, Yolanda Saldivar Was Tried in Court
Saldivar was tried in court and plead guilty to the case. She claimed that she wanted to kill herself and she shot Selena accidentally. On October 23, 1995, the court found Yolanda Saldivar guilty of first-degree murder of Selena Perez and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
The Murder Case of Casey Anthony
From time to time, Cindy called Casey that she wanted to see her granddaughter, but Casey would say she's busy for work and at times, Casey said that Caylee was out with her nanny named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez. It was later found that Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzales exists but she never met any of the Anthony family and their friends. On July 13, 2008, Casey's parents received a letter that her car was in a tow yard. When George Anthony was out to get the car, he noticed a foul smell from the trunk. When opened, it had a trash bag and no human body was found. Cindy informed the authorities that Caylee was mssing for 31 days.
Discrepancies were found in Casey's statements upon investigation
When Casey was questioned for her child's disappearance, she told the police that Caylee was kidnapped by nanny Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzales. The truth was there was no nanny. She also lied about working in Universal Studios. She was arrested on July 16 at the same year for telling false statements to authorities, child neglect and obstruction of investigation. After a month, she was released after posting for bail. On December 11, 2008, a meter reader found a trash bag with human remains which were later confirmed to be Caylee's. The trial began on July 2011 with the proecution stating that Casey is unconcerned with her child and that she suffocated Caylee with chloroform and a duct tape. Chloroform was found in her car's trunk and there was duct tape on the skull that was recovered on the trash bag.
Meanwhile, the defense asserted that Caylee drowned in the family pool and later her body was disposed by George Anthony so that her daughter will not be blamed. Casey, however, did not testify. On July 5, 2008, Casey Anthony was acquitted of murder, manslaughter and child abuse. On the other hand, Casey was found guilty of four counts of telling false information to the authorities. She was sentenced to a four year imprisonment and $4000 fines. Two of her four charges were later dismissed. She was released on July 11,2011. The acquittal had received violent reactions from the public and was dubbed as "the social media trial of the century".
The Michael Jackson Child Abuse Case
After it was aired, Gavin's mother complained that they were not aware that their child was in the film. Santa Barbara County District Attorney conducted an investigation and had a preliminary complaint against Jackson. After the boy and his mother told the authorities that Jackson had behaved inappropriately, Jackson was arrested in November 2003 and was charged with lascivious acts but bailed right after. On December 2003, he was charged with "seven counts of child molestation and with two counts of administering an intoxicating agent to carry out the molestation", all pointing out to the minor. Jackson has denied all the allegations and was convinced that the boy was forced by his greedy parents.
The Michael Jackson Trial becomes highly publicized
The defense, on the hand, had presented the case starting with the settlement of Arvizo family with JC Penney after allegedly sexually abusing her and physically abusing her two sons. The defense calls out the mother, Janet as a swindler who tries to teach her children to fabricate stories just to get money. It was also claimed that Janet rehearsed her children with lies on sexual abuse regarding Jackson so that they could get a multi-million claim. Janet's history of mental illness and psychiatric records were also brought up in court. On June 3, 2005, the jury found Michael Jackson not guilty with all the charges.
The Death of Michael Jackson
The paramedics arrived at the scene and performed another series of resuscitation. Jackson was transferred to a hospital and another resuscitation was performed for more than an hour. A few minutes later, he was pronounced dead. Jackson was last seen the night before his death, after having rehearsals for his scheduled concerts.
Personal doctor was under scrutiny after Jackson's death
In medical practice, however, propofol is not intended to be a sleeping aid. He was charged of involuntary manslaughter but he plead not guilty to the case. On November 7, 2011, Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and was later sentenced to 4 years in prison. He was released on 2013 for good behavior and prison overcrowding.
The Death of Hip-hop Icon, Tupac Shakur
The said Cadillac, with unknown passengers, shot Shakur while he was standing on the sunroof. He was shot twice in the chest and once in the arm and thigh. The police brought him to the University Medical Center of South Nevada. While on the hospital, music producer Gobi was told that the record company, Death Row has received threats from the assailants. Gobi informed Las Vegas Police but the police said they lack staffs. No assailants came to the hospital but he was still heavily guarded. He was heavily sedated and was put under induced coma since he attempted to get out of bed. On September 13, 2006, just six days after the shooting, Shakur suffered from internal bleeding and doctors could not stop the hemmorhaging. Shakur was pronounced dead at 4:03 pm due to "respiratory failure and cardiopulmonary arrest in connection with multiple gunshot wounds". His body was cremated the next day.
Who Killed Tupac Shakur?
However, B.I.G denied all the allegations linking him to the murder and said that he was recording while the incident happened. Despite the convoy of Shakur's entourage, the authorities said that nobody has seen the assailant and the shooting. The murder of Tupac Shakur remains unsolved up to this day.
The Death of Notorious B.I.G
On March 8, 1997, he attended a party that was also attended by many guests including celebrities and gang members. He was asked to leave the party on 12:30 AM of the next day due to overcrowding. Wallace and his entourage was off to return to his hotel with two vehicles in tow. At 12:45 AM, Wallace car stopped by the red light a few yards away from the venue. A black Chevy Impala pulled up beside his vehicle with a driver that was described as a black male in a blue suit and tie. The driver shot Wallace shot four times. He was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center but was later pronounced dead at 1:15 AM. According to the autopsy was released 15 years after his death, the fourth bullet that entered through his hip that went through his vital organs killed the rapper.
Wallace's Assailant Remains To Be Unidentified
In the book by Cathy Scott named The Murder of Biggie Smalls, it was stated that the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G was caused by the East Coast vs. West Coast rap rivalry that would make music companies earn more since the rappers would be more valuable if they died, rather than if they are alive. Last December 2012, the LAPD has released his autopsy records in public to create new leads in the case. The murder case of Wallace still remains a mystery.
The Death of Elvis Presley
The Death of Elvis Presley
He also did tours as part of his comeback. He became distant with his wife and ended up in a divorce. They had a child together whose name was Lisa Marie. After the divorce was final, his health condition deteriorated. He often became hospitalized and was on semicomatose due to addiction to pethidine. There were also accounts of seeing him slurring and it was visible that he was drugged and that something was wrong with his health. Despite his bad health, he still pushed through with his concerts. In early 1977, Presley started to miss shows since he cannot get out of bed. While on tour, fans became disappointed since Presley cannot speak properly anymore.